The new Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione will be the first car from the Italian label to be sold in the US since the brand disbanded operations in the world’s biggest car market, but it’s not expected to arrive until late 2009. However, the car will officially go on sale in Europe following this week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. It will be built in a limited run of just 500 examples and carry a price tag of $227,000 (€165,000) according to Automotive News Europe.

The first market to receive the new 450hp model will be Germany, which has been allotted 80 cars all up. The largest market will be the US, which gets 90 cars. Other key markets, Italy and Japan will receive 80 and 70 units respectively, while both the UK and France get 40 cars each. Switzerland gets 35 cars and the remaining 65 units are reserved for the rest of the globe.

The 8C will be built in Italy by Maserati and will be followed next year by a new Spider convertible model.